Post Retirement Careers

What careers do you think would suit the current top players after they retire?

Also, do you know of other pros who went on to successful careers after a Top 20 tennis ranking?

I'll go first. Roger would make a good brand ambassador. He is well liked all over the world and loves to travel. If he sticks with Credit Suisse or one of his other swiss sponsors, he can continue to be of help to them. It won't last a lifetime, but that may be a good second career for him.

nikdom said:

What careers do you think would suit the current top players after they retire?

Also, do you know of other pros who went on to successful careers after a Top 20 tennis ranking?

I'll go first. Roger would make a good brand ambassador. He is well liked all over the world and loves to travel. If he sticks with Credit Suisse or one of his other swiss sponsors, he can continue to be of help to them. It won't last a lifetime, but that may be a good second career for him.

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A couple of points if I may.

1. Being a brand ambassador is not a job in and of itself - unemployed 19 year olds called Shane don't get asked to be brand ambassadors - you have to already be somebody - so Roger's second career would essentially involve 'being Roger Federer'

2. Why does he need a second career anyway? He has his foundation and a massive pile of money - I think he might well focus on that once he retires.

Roddick is guaranteed to be a huge presence in the USTA administration, inductee into IHOF, DC captain, commentator - kind of like the next PMac, but with actual accomplishments in singles. He will also play on the Champions tour if it still exists, and I would not be surprised if he enters politics.

^^ Roddick is smart and definitely has a way with words. Won't surprise me if he gets into politics.

nikdom said:

^^ Roddick is smart and definitely has a way with words. Won't surprise me if he gets into politics.

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He is certainly a diplomatic guy.

Really good thread. I think this is quite reasonable:

Federer: All the brands that sponsor him at the moment would probably still see no reason but to still continue with his involvement (more so, much more - he's not making an income playing tennis so they'd see this as an opportunity to bump up his contract). Everyone will still love him. I can still see him modelling his range of Nike clothes for the next generation to wear (Adidas have Barricade, Adizero...Nike can have a major RF court range?)
Amusingly, I can probably see Federer expanding his range so much further (McEnroe/Borg launched their underwear collection is recent years, why not Federer? 'GOAT in your pants') - Overall, MUCH less on screen TV involvement.

Nadal: Probably follow Fed's footsteps but on a much more downscaled version. Maybe design some neat trainers for Nike, full-time work for Bacardi. Heavy Davis Cup involvement as captain.

Murray: Launch his career in commentating/presenting for all the big channels, particularly BBC in the UK. Think of him as the next permanent Boris Becker or McEnroe studio presence. Probably in his spare time he'll do all thats physically possible to help breed the next generation of British tennis players, Maybe even try and sort the LTA out. (millions of £££ is going in, but world-class tennis players aren't coming out)

Djokovic: Uhh...open a tennis academy? Clothing-Racquet range?

I can see all of them, probably not Federer, being offered to become Davis Cup captains. And TV jobs like Murray. However I don't think Federer would EVER accept being a commentator, his persona is just one that could not handle the thought of being so closely involved in tennis but not be playing. He'll stay away from the court, but near the money.

i think its safe to assume that murray will blast his competition en-route to the 2020 world cyber games in both topspin 14 and FIFA '20

I remember Mario Ancic graduating law school and then quitting tennis because of his health issues. I think he's actually practicing law now.

Ion Tiriac is a great example of a player turned successful coach turned billionaire businessman.

Fed enquired a few years ago about buying the Basel tourny, I think he'll do that eventually.

I think Federer will do "something in tennis". I'm sure the BBC will talk him into doing some analyses at Wimbledon or something. And he'll surely stay involved in Basel. For the rest: Spend time with his family.

djokovic recently got a small role in the expendables 2 but imo hollywood should cast him for the role the joker in the batman movie. djokovic would be perfect for that role

nikdom said:

^^ Roddick is smart and definitely has a way with words. Won't surprise me if he gets into politics.

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He has the perfect skill of being two-faced: acting mature and generous in his interviews, and behaving like an a-hole on court when it really matters.

sureshs said:

He has the perfect skill of being two-faced: acting mature and generous in his interviews, and behaving like an a-hole when it really matters.

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Somehow sounds like you're describing yourself.

Nadal will play pro soccer (football) and pro golf...and fish in his off - time. I actually think that when he talks about fishing he really means cruising around on his multi-million dollar yacht.

pound cat said:

Nadal will play pro soccer (football) and pro golf...and fish in his off - time. I actually think that when he talks about fishing he really means cruising around on his multi-million dollar yacht.

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He's gonna need a bigger boat.

namelessone said:

He's gonna need a bigger boat.

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The new boat is on order.

Federer = Next James Bond

batz said:

A couple of points if I may.

1. Being a brand ambassador is not a job in and of itself - unemployed 19 year olds called Shane don't get asked to be brand ambassadors - you have to already be somebody - so Roger's second career would essentially involve 'being Roger Federer'

2. Why does he need a second career anyway? He has his foundation and a massive pile of money - I think he might well focus on that once he retires.

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Good points, I think it's actually more interesting to consider what happens with those pros who CAN'T just live off the huge earnings and fame they develop while on tour.

Anyone remember Dan Goldie?!

http://www.dangoldie.com/

Fifth Set said:

Good points, I think it's actually more interesting to consider what happens with those pros who CAN'T just live off the huge earnings and fame they develop while on tour.

Anyone remember Dan Goldie?!

http://www.dangoldie.com/

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He’s probably doing what he loves doing because anyone that’s won atp events and was top 30 in the world at one point would have no trouble getting a cushy coaching job somewhere at a country club. Obviously the paydays where far less in the 80s than they are now even adjusted for inflation so most players would still need to work after they retire but it’s not like they’d have to be flipping burgers at McDonalds.

Djokovic-stand-up comedy
Federer-acting (he would make an excellent James Bond)
Feliciano Lopez/Jelena Jankovic/Ana Ivanovic-modelling
Nadal-weightlifting/nutrition specialist

Murray - rapper
Ljubicic - hairdresser
Gulbis - unemployed
Nalbandian - chef
Youhzny - officer
Fish - swimmer
Anderson - diamond cutter
Ferrero - hotel manager

pound cat said:

Nadal will play pro soccer (football) and pro golf...and fish in his off - time. I actually think that when he talks about fishing he really means cruising around on his multi-million dollar yacht.

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That's a beautiful boat but it's not Rafa's. He rented it for a week to take all his buddies on their annual jaunt - sometimes it's on a boat, last year it was to Thailand when he went there to play at Bangkok, other years it's been trips to islands or whatever. The guys have all been friends since childhood and Rafa has been doing this boys week out for a few years now.

CCNM said:

Nadal-weightlifting/nutrition specialist

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That's funny. Rafa works hard on training equipment but he doesn't do any weightlifting, and his diet is notoriously boring - piles of pasta slathered with olive oil and some fresh fish. Don't think too many people would want any diet tips from him.

Journeyman Aussie pro Brad Drewett has parlayed his local ATP management experience into a tilt at running the entire ATP worldwide(?).

Pat Rafter is now best known as an underwear model in Australia. He has steadfastly avoided the predictable route of ex-pro turned TV analyst/commentator, letting Todd Woodbridge fill that niche.

I don't know about you but I reckon it was a dumb move by Rafa's management allowing him to be associated with KIA Motor Cars. Seems pretty poor marketing. Why not any of the pre$tige car brands like BMW/Benz?

Nadal : Proctologist

Federer : Womens leather bag tanner

MAXXply said:

Journeyman Aussie pro Brad Drewett has parlayed his local ATP management experience into a tilt at running the entire ATP worldwide(?).

Pat Rafter is now best known as an underwear model in Australia. He has steadfastly avoided the predictable route of ex-pro turned TV analyst/commentator, letting Todd Woodbridge fill that niche.

I don't know about you but I reckon it was a dumb move by Rafa's management allowing him to be associated with KIA Motor Cars. Seems pretty poor marketing. Why not any of the pre$tige car brands like BMW/Benz?

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The family likely thought Nadal fit the Kia everyman image rather than the Aston Martin image and the prestige brands likely thought the same thing,

Ironically Nadal owns an Aston Martin.

Nadal - Preparation H commercials.

pound cat said:

The family likely thought Nadal fit the Kia everyman image rather than the Aston Martin image and the prestige brands likely thought the same thing,

Ironically Nadal owns an Aston Martin.

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Well, that's the idea... oddly, it'll be a test of a luxury brand's willingness to ignore his past brand associations. In the same way a well known luxury brand like Mercedes for example would usually discount the idea of having an association with someone who has a chequered past in their eyes that would almost certainly include a person's previous sponsorship deals. Do they paint a picture of X or Y?

Given that I'd say we'll see Nadal either ditch Kia his endorsement in the next year or two or, conversely, ramp it up big-time (money talks!).